The top sports vacations in North Carolina

Stef Zisovska
Beech Mountain downhill
Beech Mountain downhill

North Carolina is the perfect destination if you want to have an active vacation. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Outer Banks, you can find plenty of outdoor activities that will make your holiday something special. Anything from car racing and high-class golf to thrilling water sports can be a part of your vacation. Here are some suggestions to help you decide which sport you’d like to try the most. Let’s get started!

Top-class golfing

Pinehurst No. 2 sign.
Pinehurst No. 2 sign.

North Carolina is one of the world’s best locations if you want to see what a professional golf course is like. The Pinehurst Resort has eight golf courses, and a few of them are ranked among the world’s top courses. The most famous one is the Donald Ross-designed Pinehurst No.2 which has become the center spot of the resort since the restoration which finished in 2011. All golf lovers come to enjoy the numerous tournaments organized at the Pinehurst. If you are one of them, then you know where to go.

Start your engine 

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsport complex in North Carolina where you can have a lot of fun if you’re a racing fan. The venue has 140,000 seats where people come to watch some of the country’s most exciting races. Also, there are programs that offer rides in real Sprint Cup race cars for visitors. If you want to get yourself behind a race car wheel, Charlotte Motor Speedway is the perfect place for you.

Get into the Outer Banks

Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding

One of the best places to do kiteboarding in the whole country is the Outer Banks, specifically at the most southeasterly point of Cape Hatteras. You can attend kiteboarding classes with professional instructors that can adapt to any level. The best spot to do kiteboarding is along the Pamlico Sound. If you prefer surfing, then head across Highway 12 to the Atlantic Ocean. The shallow sandbars help in producing a surfer’s dream waves.

Anglers’ paradise

North Carolina has a large number of rivers and streams that are a frequent destination for local anglers. French Broad, Tuckasegee, South Holston or Nolichucky are all rivers where you can enjoy a day excursion and try your luck with trout or smallmouth bass.

Boating in Oriental

Oriental is one of the nine municipalities in Pamlico Sound, and it’s the sailing paradise of North Carolina. If you are a boat lover, you can visit Oriental’s School of Sailing and join one of the 3 day courses. After finishing the course, you can charter one of the school’s sailboats and cruise the open sea.

Flying Fun

The Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway

If the water is not what you’re interested in, North Carolina has more adventures to offer. What about taking a zipline above the largest waterfall in central and eastern North Carolina? Carver’s Fall is one of the most thrilling experiences you can have while vacationing in North Carolina. If this is not exciting enough, then try the world’s most powerful wind tunnel at Paraclete XP SkyVenture. Enjoy your flight!

Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain in North Carolina is no longer just a skiing paradise, but now offers year-round recreational fun. Outside of the skiing season, you can grab a mountain bike and ride the 8 mile Beech Mountain Adventure Trail. Along the way you’ll be rewarded with amazing views and overlooks of the area. The altitude on the trail varies from  4,700 to 5,400 feet. During winter, Beech Mountain has 17 ski trails for different levels.

If what you’re looking for is something more than a regular vacation, you can use some of these ideas to plan your own sports holiday. Now you know what can you dedicate yourself to while visiting North Carolina.

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stef-zisovska

stef-zisovska is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival